Page 17 of Ranger's Rise

I stand up to ask. Falcon waves me back down. “I’ll go.”

Cort asks, “Was she pissed today?”

“Not that I saw. She doesn’t talk shit, so unless I ask, she won’t say.”

He nods. “Seren is like that too. It’s good, but there are drawbacks. Mark Twain or Abraham Lincoln said,‘Better to remain silent and be thoughtafool than to speak and to remove all doubt.’I like that she’s not a gossip, but hate that I have to know the right shit to ask.”

I smile because he’s right. I didn’t know about Hade giving Freedom shit. VP laughs. “You listen to and see enough shit that you get it.”

Falcon comes back in. “Eleven. While we were there, she made a balloon for Aris and he gave it to Jacques. It was with paper from the cafeteria. Aris was talking to her then to Jacques in French. It was cute.”

Where the fuck was I? “Aris talked to her? He doesn’t talk tome.” Cort is offended.

“He asked her to train, then brought her the paper and scissors. He was talking to her, Boss.” Falcon likes catching Cort off guard. I need to pay attention. I didn’t see her make a balloon.

“I’m going tomorrow. Did they talk to you?” Cort asks like he was slighted.

I smile. “Yeah, Boss. Anton sat by me and asked for my phone to chat with you. The others said a word here and there, but they asked me to train. Even Maddox pushed through to have Akai tell us he wants to go up.”

“This is so fucking good. I should have gone with you. I’m going with Freedom. This is your fault, Raid. I’m meeting about satellites and miss the good shit.”

Falcon and VP laugh. “You blaming me for everything you do is going to get noticed, Cort. You were excited about the satellite.”

Cort nods. “Yeah, I need to own my shit. I want a schedule from Web of what’s happening, so I don’t miss the good that’s going on.”

VP nods. “I’ll tell him.”

That easy. I swing my head smiling. Freedom comes to the door and I stand. “You’re ready?”

“In a minute.” She looks at Cort. “Hade is getting mean. I’m not worried, but he gave Seren a look today that wasn’t normal Hade. It had her moving closer to me. It’s notable because it hasn’t happened in a while.”

I feel when Cort gets pissed, VP puts his hand on Cort’s arm and Cort takes a deep breath. I pay attention to how that works. “He’s going to the city tomorrow. No one told me that anger changed. Thanks. I’ll deal.”

Freedom nods. “I’ll be five minutes,” she says to me. I sit.

“Falcon?” Cort is pissed. It comes out like a bark.

“I ran out of Ops when I saw him on the training floor with them. Nance had the Team standing readied. When Hade hit the stairs, I moved back into Ops. I had a trainee on with me running the room and shit was happening at Maverick’s. I never replayed the feed.” Falcon took a chance leaving the Ops room and he knows it.

Cort pulls his phone and starts swiping. VP leans and they watch the screen. “Jesus, fuck!” VP says in a stage whisper.

Cort is up and pacing. “I need someone in the city watching him. I’d put him in the fucking dish if I thought he wouldn’t go for Seren. I need to tell Seren I’m out. I need to deal with the dickass.”

“I’m in, Boss, ” Falcon says.

I look at VP. “I may be a spark here.”

“Yeah. Stay away or Freedom will end up killing him. She doesn’t need more shit from men either.” Cort walks out with VP and Falcon throwing me chin.

“See you on the sunny side, Falcon.”

“You will, Brother. I’ll send a chat later.” He throws over his shoulder. I follow them, wave to the women and ask Daniel if he wants to go up with the As. He does and Lorelei will get a Prospect to pick him up from school.

The Brothers are riding toward the office when we get to my truck. They throw respect and I give it back smiling. That feels good. I take Freedom around the lake toward her condo unit.

“They’re talking to Hade and you don’t want me to see it?”

I smile. She doesn’t miss much either. “They’re talking to Hade and would have just made his door when we ride by. I’m not setting the spark that will have him going off instead of thinking clearly.”